The Government has provided more than £700,000 in humanitarian assistance to relieve the suffering of the Timorese people. At least a further £1.3 million will be spent in humanitarian and reconstruction assistance this year. In recognition of the importance of human resource development, APSO is committed to making a contribution in this area in collaboration with UN agencies such as the United Nations volunteers.
While it is difficult to know exactly how many refugees remain in West Timor and other parts of Indonesia, the UNHCR estimates the number to be about 120,000. It is also now widely accepted that up to 60,000 of these may not want to return. The pace of returns has slowed with the number of ex-army, police and militia among the returnees increasing. UNHCR reports that although access to the refugees in West Timor has improved, it is not regular, free and unhindered. There are concerns about the conditions in the camps. The international community is working to improve this situation. The United Nations Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, will raise the issue of the refugees at his meeting with the Indonesian President today.
The humanitarian situation in East Timor has stabilised. The main concern now is to provide shelter, basic health and education and to resume agricultural production. The Government is committed to playing its part with the rest of the international community in supporting the people of East Timor to recover from the terrible events of the past and to make a successful transition to full independence. An assessment team visited East Timor in late November last year. Work is currently under way on a strategy which will provide carefully targeted assistance to the people of East Timor in developing their self-reliance and building their new nation. Representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs will travel there again in the very near future to continue consultations with the authorities and agencies on the ground.